26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (2024)

It's butternut squash season and the versatile vegetable has our attention. Soft and creamy when cooked, with the ability to taste sweet or savory depending on the preparation, butternut squash yields itself to a variety of recipes for sides and mains. Add it to macaroni and cheese, puree it into soup, and even use it to bake a meatless Parmesan. Here are a bunch of warming butternut squash recipes we love.

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Roasted Butternut Squash with Curry Leaves

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (1)

"A sprinkling of marash chile flakes and curry leaves with coconut oil add a bit of heat and an intoxicating fragrance," says cookbook author Nik Sharma about this delicious side dish, "while the black mustard seeds add a hint of nuttiness." If you can't find marash chile flakes, Aleppo pepper can be substituted.

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02of 26

Roasted Butternut Squash Parmesan

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (2)

To make this fantastic vegetarian Parmesan, cookbook author Raquel Pelzel first roasts seasoned half-moons of squash. The squash gets layered with marinara and three cheeses, then baked until it's tender and golden. To finish, Pelzel sprinkles the dish with crisp homemade breadcrumbs.

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03of 26

Curried Squash Galette

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (3)

With a super-flaky crust (the secret: frozen grated butter) and a lightly spiced sweet-savory winter squash filling, this rustic galette from Food & Wine's Justin Chapple makes for a perfect vegetarian meal.

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04of 26

Butternut Squash and Pork Soup with Fish Sauce and Tender Herbs

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (4)

In Vietnam, kabocha squash is simmered with pork to make a soup called canh bi do thit heo. This riff on that classic dish swaps in mild butternut, which holds its shape well and absorbs the rich flavors of the broth and pork while cooking quickly.

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05of 26

Lamb and Butternut Squash Tagine with Apricots

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (5)

Savory lamb, salty olives, and ras el hanout (a North African spice blend of coriander, cumin, and a range of warm spices) are balanced by sweet butternut squash, apricots, and a touch of honey.

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06of 26

Roasted Butternut Squash with Chorizo-Spiced Kale

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (6)

With its earthy sweetness and dense texture, butternut squash makes a hearty vegetable steak. At Chaval in Portland, Maine, chef Damian Sansonetti highlights its complexity with his chorizo spice mix; he blooms the blend of cumin, Pimentón, and coriander in oil to release their aroma.

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Roasted Butternut Squash with Sage

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (7)

This five-ingredient dish could not be easier to make. The classic, delicious combination of squash and sage is tossed in olive oil and simply seasoned before it's roasted to lightly browned perfection.

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08of 26

Butternut Squash Casserole with Leeks, Prosciutto, and Thyme

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (8)

This luscious squash-studded savory bread pudding is the ideal accompaniment to roasted meats and poultry. You can also cut it into large squares and serve it as a main course with a green salad on the side.

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09of 26

Roast Chicken with Butternut Squash

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (9)

Chicken quarters roasted with golden squash and sage are nice for a chilly autumn evening. To help the squash brown evenly, be sure to spoon off the fat from the roasting pan after removing the breasts. The butternut squash can be swapped out for your favorite winter squash.

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10of 26

Winter Squash Gnocchi with Brown Butter and Sage

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (10)

"This classic northern Italian combo of sage, Parmesan, gnocchi, and brown butter is one of my top five desert-island dishes," chef Andrew Zimmern writes. For ease of preparation, the uncooked gnocchi can be made up to a month ahead and frozen.

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11of 26

Mashed Potatoes with Butternut Squash

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (11)

This dish calls for equal parts Yukon Gold potatoes and butternut squash, fabulously enriched with half-and-half and butter. The key to an ultra-fluffy texture is to use a ricer, but you can also pass the potatoes through a food mill or fine-mesh sieve, or very gently mash by hand.

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12of 26

Spice-Roasted Butternut Squash

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (12)

Cumin, coriander, and cayenne pepper bring warmth and spice to this simple, tender roasted squash dish.

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13of 26

Gingered Butternut Squash Soup with Spicy Pecan Cream

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (13)

Chef Dean Fearing loves the holiday feel of butternut squash, especially when it's combined with ginger, as it is for his smooth, gently sweet soup. He tops it with lightly spiced whipped cream flecked with chopped pecans for contrast, flavor, and some all-important crunch. "I think everything should have a little bit of crunch to it," he says.

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Farfalle with Spicy Sausage and Butternut Squash

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (14)

Sweet butternut squash is the perfect counterpoint to spicy hot Italian sausage in this warming winter pasta.

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15of 26

Baked Butternut Squash and Cheese Polenta

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (15)

This crusty baked polenta is swirled with mashed butternut squash, onion, pine nuts, and smoked Gouda cheese. It's excellent served with sautéed mushrooms, braised greens, or tomato sauce.

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16of 26

Butternut Squash Risotto with Crispy Pancetta

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (16)

Feel free to exchange bacon for pancetta and any type of winter squash for the butternut used in this simple and satisfying risotto.

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17of 26

Butternut Squash-Polenta Gratin

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (17)

Sweet puréed squash comes together with nutty polenta in this warming gratin. The dish can be assembled without its topping and refrigerated up to five days in advance before baking.

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18of 26

Butternut Squash Soup with Crisp Pancetta

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (18)

In this recipe, butternut squash is first buttered, seasoned, and roasted with pancetta slices draped over the top to infuse flavor. The finished soup is pureed until creamy smooth and served with the crispy crumbled pancetta for textural contrast.

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19of 26

Winter Squash with Savoy Cabbage Gratin and Garlic Crema

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (19)

San Francisco chef Matthew Accarrino looks to cornstarch to thicken the creamy milk-based roasted garlic sauce here. It's a rich but nutritious combination of winter squash with cabbage, all topped with crunchy hazelnuts.

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20of 26

Curry-Roasted Butternut Squash and Chickpeas

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (20)

After tossing the squash and chickpeas with curry and cayenne, Melissa Rubel Jacobson roasts them, then drizzles the dish with a cooling cilantro-spiked yogurt sauce.

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21of 26

Lentils with Butternut Squash and Merguez Sausage

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (21)

This dish from chef Mourad Lahlou of Aziza in San Francisco comes together in four steps, and since the sausage is cooked separately, it's a meal you can serve to both vegetarians and meat-eaters at the same time.

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22of 26

Golden Macaroni and Cheese with Butternut Squash Puree

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (22)

The neck of the butternut squash is easy to peel and cube, making it perfect for easy pasta dishes. This recipe is a great way to use up that pesky bottom half as well — the halved squash is simply baked until soft, and then the flesh is scooped out and mashed so it can be used in the sauce.

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23of 26

Squash Gratin with Poblanos and Cream

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (23)

Los Angeles chef Julie Robles makes this cheesy vegetarian gratin in individual dishes with a topping of candied pumpkin seeds. Our simplified version here is for one big gratin garnished with plain toasted pumpkin seeds.

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24of 26

Spice-Roasted Butternut Squash with Herbed Millet and Tahini Dressing

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (24)

This is the perfect make-ahead meal or dish to take along to a gathering. The squash and tahini sauce can be made a day ahead, while the millet will store happily for a couple of hours.

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Risotto Nero with Squash and Burrata

26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (25)

Chef Nancy Oakes of San Fransisco's Boulevard makes this gorgeous risotto with Venere black rice, a naturally black short-grain rice. The glossy grains are especially striking served with the golden butternut squash puree and creamy white burrata.

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26of 26

Coconut Chickpeas with Winter Squash

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Starchy, slightly sweet plantains are a natural addition to winter squash. Here, New York chef JJ Johnson simmers both, along with canned chickpeas, in coconut milk that's been steeped with aromatics. The result is creamy, fragrant, and so comforting.

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26 Snug Butternut Squash Recipes to Make This Season (2024)

FAQs

What is the best season for butternut squash? ›

When is butternut squash in season? Butternut squash are harvested in late summer and autumn, but because they keep so well, they can be found all year round.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook butternut squash? ›

In a large bowl mix the cubed squash, garlic cloves and ginger with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the spice mix. Season with salt and pepper and scatter in a single layer in a roasting tray. Place in the preheated oven and cook for 30 minutes until tender all the way through.

What are 3 ways you can eat butternut squash? ›

7 ways to cook with butternut squash
  • Butternut squash soup. ...
  • Spicy squash and spinach soup. ...
  • Roasted butternut squash. ...
  • Butternut squash laksa. ...
  • Moroccan-spiced tomato sauce with roast vegetables and chickpeas. ...
  • Beef and butternut squash moussaka. ...
  • Chilled toffee apple creams.

What goes well with butternut squash? ›

Serve your butternut squash with one of these other fall-flavored chicken recipes: Rosemary Chicken Thighs with Apples or Maple Dijon Chicken and Vegetables. Pasta. Round out your favorite pasta recipes from Baked Turkey Meatballs to Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff with this healthy vegetable side.

Is butternut squash anti-inflammatory? ›

Butternut Squash: Butternut squash is a superb source of beta-carotene, vitamin C, and fiber, all of which can contribute to lower inflammation levels. Blend butternut squash into soups or roast it with a touch of cinnamon for a sweet and savory side dish.

What month is butternut squash ready? ›

When Should I Harvest Butternut Squash? Typically, butternut squash is ready to be picked in late fall or early winter. However, if you plant your squash early enough, they could be ready in the summer.

What does butternut squash do for the gut? ›

Butternut squash contains considerable amounts of fiber, which can help you keep a healthy weight and regulate bowel movements. It's known to help prevent colorectal cancer while the beta-carotene in butternut squash can also improve eye health.

Is butternut squash very healthy? ›

Butternut squash offers nutritional values like vitamin A, potassium, and fiber. Health benefits of this winter squash include managing high blood pressure, preventing asthma, and promoting healthy skin and hair. Contrary to the name, winter squash is grown in the summer and harvested in the fall.

Can you eat too much butternut squash? ›

Special Precautions and Warnings. When taken by mouth: Butternut is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people, but it can cause diarrhea and irritation of the stomach and intestines. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: It's LIKELY UNSAFE to use butternut in large amounts if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Is butternut squash good for your bowels? ›

It's high in fibre which means it may contribute to a healthy gut by improving digestion and reducing constipation. It's also low in calories and packed with beta-carotene – our bodies convert this to vitamin A to support the immune system, healthy eyes and strong bones.

Is butternut squash healthier than sweet potatoes? ›

To begin with, the butternut squash beats the sweet potato with fewer calories, carbs and sugar per serving. Moreover, it is rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins B6 and E. On the other hand, the sweet potato, however, provides more fiber and protein.

How do you prepare butternut squash for eating? ›

Pour 2 cups water into the dish around the squash halves. Bake in the preheated oven until tender and easily pierced with a fork, about 1 1/2 hours, adding more water as needed. Remove from the oven and transfer each half to a plate, cut-side up. Top each half with butter and season with salt and pepper.

Is butternut squash a winter or summer crop? ›

Popular types of winter squash include butternut, acorn, pumpkin, and spaghetti. They usually have orange or yellow flesh, and come in many flavors, shapes, and sizes. They're very nutritious and provide vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium.

What month do you plant butternut squash? ›

in late May to early June when all danger of frost is past and the soil is well warmed by the sun to about 60 to 65 degrees F. (15-18 C.) Plant seedlings at a 4-inch (10 cm) depth. Butternut squash plants are extremely tender.

What time of year can you buy butternut squash? ›

Seasonality: Butternut squash is in available year-round, but in peak season during the fall and winter months.

Is butternut squash spring or fall? ›

Butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata) is a type of winter squash. The plants are annuals that grow in almost any climate. They are planted in spring, following the last frost of the season. Their vines grow quickly, but the fruits may not be ready to harvest for three to four months from planting time.

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